Chapter 28: Blacksmith

First impressions with the people we’d meet going forward were important. 

These were talents handpicked by the meticulous Han Yuseong. 

There was almost a 100% chance they’d become major pillars in shaping the future world. 

“This is it.” 

Han Yuseong stopped in front of a dilapidated, crumbling building. It was the epitome of a haunted house. 

“This building is impressive!” 

Yoon Cheonwoo exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with admiration. 

‘At this point, is my sense of aesthetics the weird one?’

The interior was filled with musty dust and cobwebs. 

I thought Lava Elementary was rundown, but this place was on another level. 

It genuinely felt like a ghost might pop out at any moment. 

Descending the stairs, we were greeted by an old door. 

“Anyone there?” 

I knocked twice, but there was no response from inside. 

‘Is there really an exceptional talent here?’ 

Honestly, I just wanted to go back. 

Creak! 

It seems the world really does hate me. 

The door opened with the sound of rusty hinges. 

Cobwebs and chilly air sent shivers down my spine. 

‘I’d rather face a monster! I hate ghosts!’ 

That’s why I avoid horror movies. 

“Excuse us.” 

As we stepped inside, a strong metallic smell hit my nose. 

It felt like… stepping into a blacksmith’s forge. 

Weapons and various pieces of armor lined the walls. 

‘Are these all equipment for hunters?’ 

In the early days of hunters, some ran private forges. 

Their high-quality equipment was wildly popular. 

But everything changed when the Blacksmith Guild was formed. 

They began mass-producing equipment. 

People turned to cheaper gear, even if the quality was lower. 

Because of that, I’d heard private forges had nearly gone extinct. 

“Who’s there?” 

A man with a gruff voice emerged from behind the equipment. 

An elderly man, likely the forge’s owner. 

“Sorry for barging in. We knocked, but there was no answer.” 

The man sat down on a chair, acting like he didn’t care. 

“I’m not making equipment anymore, so get out.” 

He waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed. 

He didn’t even ask why we were here before trying to kick us out. 

At that moment, Han Yuseong approached the man. 

“Hello, sir. My name is Han Yuseong.” 

“Huh? There’s a kid here too?” 

Han Yuseong continued, using polite honorifics. 

I knew how significant it was for Han Yuseong, who usually spoke informally to me, to use respectful language. 

It showed how valuable this person was to him. 

“I heard your right hand was impaired due to an artifact.” 

The man’s eyebrows twitched. 

His lips quivered slightly, as if Han Yuseong had hit a nerve. 

“So what do you want to do about it?” 

“I can heal it. But in exchange, I need your cooperation…” 

I noticed the man’s hand slowly moving behind him. 

A bad feeling hit me, and without thinking, I rushed toward Han Yuseong. 

As I wrapped my arms around him, the man swung a hammer. 

I quickly grabbed it with my right hand. 

A stinging pain shot through my palm. 

“What are you doing!?” 

The man didn’t intend to kill Han Yuseong. 

Judging by the force and angle of the swing, it was just meant to intimidate. 

“You say you can heal my hand!? I don’t know where you heard about me, but I won’t be fooled twice!” 

The man unleashed long-buried anger. 

His eyes were a mix of hatred and distrust. 

“I don’t know why you’re acting like this, but we came to find you with no ill intentions.” 

The deep rage the man harbored was beyond my understanding.  

And I didn’t try to understand it. 

No matter if it was just a threat, he swung a hammer. 

I had no interest in getting friendly with someone like that. 

I’d rather find someone else. 

“Wait…” 

The man, who had been scowling, suddenly grabbed my cheek and pulled my face closer. 

As I stood there bewildered, he kept muttering to himself. 

“What’s your name, by chance?” 

“…Kim Onyu.” 

The man released my cheek and picked up the hammer again. 

I instinctively shielded Han Yuseong, but contrary to my expectations, he said something else. 

“I’ll trust you.” 

“What…?” 

His attitude changed so suddenly? 

The man who had been threateningly swinging the hammer and shouting was gone. 

“If it’s you, there’s no reason to betray me, so I’ll trust you this once.” 

I couldn’t hide my disbelief. 

We’d just met, yet he acted like we had some long-standing connection. 

“Then let’s hear what you have to say.” 

★★★

The man’s name was Han Kangwook. 

He was a blacksmith with exceptional talent. 

You could tell just from the mana radiating from his presence. 

With that level of skill, any guild would want to recruit him. 

But Han Kangwook drew a firm line, saying he’d rather die than join a guild. 

“So, you’re saying you, kid, can heal my right hand?” 

“Yes, that’s right.” 

Han Yuseong pulled a familiar-looking necklace from his pocket. 

It was the artifact we’d obtained from the dungeon in the back mountain.  

So he got it for Han Kangwook. 

“Hoh, a piece brimming with fire-attribute heat.” 

“That should be able to melt the cold that’s seeped into your right hand, sir.” 

Taking the artifact, Han Kangwook looked satisfied. 

Just moments ago, he was so distrustful. 

I had plenty to nitpick about, but since the outcome was good, I let it slide. 

I couldn’t figure out why his right hand was damaged. 

But I noticed a bitter smile on Han Kangwook’s lips. 

“So, what do you want from me? You’re not giving this away for free.” 

No one hands over a valuable artifact to a complete stranger for nothing. 

Han Kangwook knew that too. 

“What I want is for you to give me one of your pieces of equipment in the future, no conditions attached.” 

He meant he wanted one of Han Kangwook’s creations for free later on. 

Blacksmiths typically take great pride in their work. 

Asking for a piece of equipment, treated like their own child, for free was a taboo among blacksmiths. 

“Hahaha! What a bold kid. Must be because he’s your student.” 

Han Kangwook burst into hearty laughter and looked at me. 

‘Wait, do you know me?’

“Fine. Come back someday and take one of my crafted pieces.” 

Thankfully, Han Kangwook agreed readily. 

Good thing he didn’t swing the hammer again. 

‘So, can we leave now?’

With our business done, there shouldn’t be any issue with leaving. 

“Wait! Our conversation isn’t over yet.” 

Han Kangwook, sensing my intent, called me back. 

With his fiery personality, I had no idea what he might do. 

Then he extended his hand toward me. 

Unsure of his intentions, I stared blankly until he spoke, sounding exasperated. 

“Isn’t that broken artifact in your pocket?” 

“Yes, that’s right.” 

It was Jormungand’s Fang, broken during the fight with the Minotaur. 

A damaged artifact loses its value. 

I could’ve left it in the dungeon, but I brought it along out of reluctance to waste it. 

“Hand it over.” 

Grudgingly, I passed Jormungand’s Fang to Han Kangwook, who spoke in a commanding tone. 

Upon receiving it, he looked appalled. 

“You rolled this thing through the mud, didn’t you?” 

Han Kangwook held the broken piece to his ear. 

He tapped Jormungand’s Fang with his finger and let out a short, dry laugh. 

“This guy’s complaining about how roughly its master treated it.” 

I’d heard before that master blacksmiths who reached the pinnacle could hear the voices of equipment. 

But such individuals were exceedingly rare, countable on one hand. 

I knew the head of the Blacksmith Guild Federation in the U.S. was one of them. 

“Can you really hear the sword’s voice?” 

If that was true, it’d be a jackpot. 

It’d mean he was a world-class, top-tier blacksmith. 

“What nonsense! How could I hear a sword’s voice?” 

Han Kangwook looked at me like I was absurd. 

“But you just made a gesture like you were listening to the sword’s voice.” 

“It’s just intuition! Tsk, this is why young folks are no good. They can’t take a joke.” 

Han Kangwook placed Jormungand’s Fang on the table. 

“I’ll fix this, so come back for it later.” 

“You’ll fix it?” 

“Yeah, what’s the problem?” 

Repairing artifacts isn’t something ordinary blacksmiths can do. 

Only high-class blacksmiths are capable of it. 

No wonder Han Yuseong showed him such respect. 

“Is there something you want in return?” 

Repairing an artifact is a grueling process. 

It requires advanced skill and immense mental stamina. 

You don’t get something without giving something in return. 

“Listen here, kid! Stop suspecting everything! I’ve already been paid, so just leave it to me!” 

“Already paid? Have we met before?” 

‘Do I have amnesia or something?’ 

No matter how much I racked my brain, I had no memory of meeting Han Kangwook. 

“Why should I tell you? No more chatter—get out if you’re done!” 

★★★

“It’s finally quiet.” 

Han Kangwook leaned back and exhaled. 

“I never thought I’d craft equipment again in the little time I have left.” 

And for a relic from the past, long gone from his hands, to return. 

Was this fate or some damned divine trickery? 

“How’s it feel? Is your master to your liking?” 

Han Kangwook tapped the blade of Jormungand’s Fang with his finger. 

It let out a faint but satisfied hum. 

“That’s right. That’s what makes it a remnant of that guy.” 

A remnant of someone long gone, no longer visible. 

[“Uncle”] 

An old memory overlapped with reality. 

Han Kangwook stared into the void with wistful eyes. 

“He grew up just as you wanted.” 

★★★

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t remember. 

If I’d met someone as striking as Han Kangwook, I’d have remembered instantly. 

All he did was say cryptic things about being paid. 

Grumbling, I walked down the Association’s hallway. 

I came to talk with Min Kyunghwa, but things seemed chaotic. 

Everyone passing by looked grim. 

It felt like I’d walked into a funeral. 

I thought there were no incidents on the news. 

Not my problem, I guess. 

“Master.” 

Yoon Cheonwoo tugged at my sleeve. 

His eyes sparkled, as if he had a lot to say. 

I’d just dropped Han Yuseong back at the hotel after his errand. 

That meant I had to endure all of Yoon Cheonwoo’s chatter. 

‘I should’ve brought another kid along.’

His constant talking was driving me nuts. 

“I formed a dantian and reached the third-rate realm this time.” 

Dantian? Third-rate? 

What’s he talking about? 

My knowledge of martial arts was limited to shallow stuff like “Heavenly Demon.” 

Since I was clueless about martial arts, I didn’t know how to respond. 

Was all that cross-legged meditating he did to form a dantian? 

A peculiar energy, not mana, was supporting Yoon Cheonwoo’s core. 

Maybe he’ll awaken on his own. 

Walking a path you’ve already tread isn’t hard. 

If he regains the strength he had as the Heavenly Demon, he’d outclass most hunters. 

Of course, I have no idea how strong that is. 

“Good job. Keep training diligently.” 

“Praise me!” 

He stood on his tiptoes, leaning his head toward me. 

“I heard that in a master-disciple relationship, the master praises the disciple.” 

Yoon Cheonwoo looked up at me with expectant eyes. 

He reminded me of a puppy waiting for praise. 

When I patted his head, he looked delighted. 

[“Being treated like a child feels pretty good.”]

But he shouldn’t act spoiled. 

He needs to push forward with bone-grinding effort. 

Countless people watch from the shadows of the Heavenly Demon’s name. 

Loneliness is the Heavenly Demon’s only friend. 

That was a line about the Heavenly Demon from a martial arts novel I read once. 

Maybe Yoon Cheonwoo just wants to play like a normal kid. 

‘What’s that commotion?’

As we reached Min Kyunghwa’s office, faint chaotic noises could be heard. 

Knocking was drowned out by the noise. 

‘Seriously, do people never respond to knocks?’ 

No matter how much I knocked, the door didn’t open. 

I knew it was rude, but I finally opened the door and stepped inside. 

I couldn’t just wait around forever. 

“What’s all this…?” 

Papers were scattered across the floor. 

“You’re finally here?” 

Min Kyunghwa rose from among the papers, her voice weak. 

Her hair was disheveled, and dark circles shadowed her eyes. 

She clearly hadn’t slept properly last night. 

“By the way, what happened to cause all this?” 

“Good you brought it up, Kim Onyu. Shall we have a talk? In the reception room over there. Just. The. Two. Of. Us.” 

She stared at me, emphasizing each word deliberately. 

‘Uh… can’t we do it here?’

Her eyes look a bit crazed?